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Military chefs working eight hour shifts dished up two-and-a-half tons of turkey, with one tons of Brussels sprouts, and two-and-a-half tons of gammon so everyone could eat a Christmas lunch.

There were also two-and-a-half tonnes of Christmas pudding and 23,500 mince pies.

To complete the festive mood, 8,400 Christmas crackers and 8,400 party hats have been shipped the 3,500 miles to Afghanistan.

Wg Cdr Alex South said he was spending his second Christmas away from home.

He said: “I am missing everybody at home terribly. All my family in Sheffield, and friends everywhere.”

SAC Steph Craig-Stephens, from Stoke-on-Trent, said she was missing her daughter’s first Christmas and first birthday.

She said: “My family are not happy about me being away from home at Christmas, but they think it’s worthwhile. It’s very difficult being away from my daughter. I can’t wait to see her.”

Lt Gen John Lorimer, the British officer who is deputy commander of the international military coalition, said: "Despite the high tempo of operations, UK troops deployed across Afghanistan are in good spirits and will enjoy festive fare in Camp Bastion and excellent communications via the operational welfare package to contact their loved ones at home over the Christmas period.

He continued: "All coalition troops are used to time away from home on exercises or operations. As a result, this Christmas will not be viewed any differently and British troops, in particular in southern Afghanistan, will take it in their stride to enjoy the moment, whilst remaining focused on the job at hand."

Britain has pulled back from scores of small outposts and checkpoints in the past two years and closed them down or handed them to Afghan control. Britain’s deployment has fallen from a force of more than 10,000 in 2011. Troops are now only stationed at the sprawling Camp Bastion or a handful of other forward operating bases.

Defence chiefs also want to keep up to 200 advisers in Helmand, where they would be based at Camp Bastion to keep working with Helmand’s Afghan forces.

But the plan has been given a cold reception in Downing Street. The Government has said it will make no decision on what to do after 2014 until America has finalised a long term security pact with Kabul and decided whether it will keep its own troops in the country. Negotiations have stumbled over whether remaining US troops would be subject to Afghan or American justice. Hamid Karzai is currently refusing to sign a deal.